Question

What causes neonatal Group B Streptococcus infection?

Answer

Neonatal Group B Streptococcus infection is primarily caused by the following factors:

  1. The mother transmits the bacteria to the baby during childbirth.
  2. The baby comes into contact with contaminated environments or medical devices after birth. When the baby develops respiratory infections again, the mucosal barrier may be damaged, allowing Group B Streptococcus to invade and multiply, producing large amounts of GBS III-type capsular polysaccharide antigen. Additionally, a decrease in the mother’s own antibodies may also be a factor. In some cases, even if the baby shows no symptoms, GBS bacteremia may occur, which can lead to osteomyelitis, especially in cases of bone injury. Since some antibodies have already been produced in the baby’s body, the level of GBS III-type specific IgG antibodies in the blood may decrease, limiting the scope of infection.